How we cite our quotes: (Line number)
Quote #7
Allas, the shorte throte, the tendre mouth
Maketh that est and west and north and south
In erthe, in eir, in water, man to swynke
To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke! (231 – 234)
The Pardoner uses the terms "shorte throte" and "tendre mouth" to symbolize a glutton at the beginning of this passage. The point he wants to make here is that a disproportionate amount of work goes into feeding the glutton – he's taking more than his "fair share." There's the implication that the body is insatiable.
Quote #8
Allas, a foul thyng is it, by my feith,
To seye this word, and fouler is the dede
Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede
That of his throte he maketh his pryvee
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. (238 – 242)
The drunken man makes his throat his "privy," or toilet, both because of what he puts into it—disgusting drink—and because of the senseless, drunken speech that comes out of it. Once again, body=disgust.
Quote #9
Ther walken manye of which yow toold have I –
I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys,
That they been enemys of Cristes croys,
Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is hir god.
O wombe! O bely! O stynkyng cod!
Fulfilled of donge and of corrupcioun,
At either ende of thee foul is the soun. (243 – 249)
The Pardoner reveals the roots of his argument against the "wombe" (which represents gluttony here) in Pauline scripture. The belly comes to stand in for the glutton himself. A glutton's belly is full of corrupt stuff and emits foul sounds at either end for obvious reasons. He's also referring to the senseless speech that comes from the lips of the drunkard. What an image of the belching, stinking, farting, blathering drunkard. Shmoop will never eat or drink anything ever again.